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Complementary medicine: are patients' expectations being met by their general practitioners?
W Himmel1, M Schulte, M M Kochen
1Department of General Practice, University Medical School, Göttingen, Germany.
Summary
Patients increasingly seek complementary medicine, but general practitioners
Area of Science:
- General Practice
- Complementary Medicine
- Patient Expectations
Background:
- Complementary medicine use has risen significantly over the past two decades.
- Growing patient interest necessitates evaluating healthcare provider integration of these therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess if general practitioners (GPs) meet patient expectations regarding complementary medicine.
- To identify the gap between patient demand and GP provision of alternative therapies.
Main Methods:
- A postal survey was distributed to 71 accredited GPs in Kassel, Germany.
- A structured questionnaire gathered data on GP experience with complementary medicine.
- Patient interviews (n=310) explored attitudes, expectations, and therapy use.
Main Results:
- 95% of responding GPs utilized some form of complementary medicine (e.g., herbal medicine, neural therapy, homeopathy).
- 58% of patients preferred complementary medicine over orthodox treatments; 40% had received it.
- Nearly 70% of patients desired more frequent complementary medicine practice by their GP.
Conclusions:
- A notable discrepancy exists between patient demand for complementary medicine and GP capacity or willingness to provide it.
- Despite mutual interest, current practice levels do not fully align with patient expectations for alternative therapies.
- Further integration of complementary medicine into general practice is indicated to meet patient needs.